Oil burner



Patented Mar. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OIL BURNER Application July 27, 1932, Serial No. 625,092

3 Claims.

This invention relates to oil burners of the type used in heating furnaces and has for an object to provide an improved simplified form embodying a minimum number of parts, and one that can be readily assembled and installed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved oil burner for furnaces and the like wherein the burner head is arranged above the heat deflecting member, while substantially all of the other parts are arranged therebelow so as to be out of the heated zone.

A further object of the invention is to provide in an oil burner for furnaces and the like an air control structure which controls a supply of air to the burner and also regulates the air used in cooling certain of the parts.

An additional object, more specifically, is to provide in an oil burner for furnaces a refractory range structure which acts to deflect the oil in the range upwardly and also acts as a division plate between the rotating head and the motor and associated parts.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the lower part of the furnace with a burner embodying the invention applied thereto, certain parts of the burner structure being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the principal parts of the burner shown in Figure 1, the same being on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through Figure 2 on line 33, the same being on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through Figure 2 on line 4-4.

Figure 5 is a detail fragmentary sectional view through Figure 2 on line 55.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, I indicates the side walls of a boiler or heating furnace of any desired kind. Arranged within the side walls I is a burner 2 which principally occupies the lower space or ash pit section 3 of the furnace.

It will be evident that the burner embodying the invention could be used in furnaces which are now in use or in. new furnaces of the type known as hot air furnaces, or those using hot water or steam. The type of furnace, therefore, has nothing to do with the present invention, as the burner embodying the invention may be applied to any suitable furnace and in fact could be applied elsewhere, though it has been principally designed and principally adapted for heating furnaces.

Arranged within the wall I is a ring 4 of fire clay or fireproof cement, the same resting on suitable lugs 5 secured in any desired manner to the wall I. In addition a metallic ring 6 rests on the lug 5, and on this ring is arranged what may be termeda hearth or deflecting ring 1 formed of fire clay or fireproof cement and provided with a curved annular outer portion 8 for deflecting the streams of oil or air to the flame in a curved outward direction. The curved portion 8 may be varied as desired, but a curved portion is necessary as it receives the impact of the oil as it is discharged from the head 9; and also the air as hereinafter fully described, preferably along an upper surface or slightly above the upper surface of the ring I, and mixes with the sprayed oil or oil vapor near the curved portion 8. The deflecting ring I also acts as a heat insulating ring for preventing the heat fromthis ring from effecting the casing l0, motor H and other parts arranged below the metallic ring 6. The casing l and associated parts, not including rings 6 and 1, may be termed the heating unit for the purpose of this description, and has been designated generally by the numeral 2.

The heating unit as shown in Figure 2, is provided with a base l3 which is preferably a casting, as, for instance, cast iron. This casting flares at M and carries a number of adjusting screws I which may be used to vary the effective height of the unit I2, and also may level the unit so that it may fit properly in the bore it of the ring I. The upper end of the base I3 is provided with a flange or shoulder ll which receives the casing l0, and disposed at the upper end of the casing 10 is an annular ring l8 which is provided with a depending annular flange l9 and an upstanding flange 2|], said upstanding flange snugly fitting the bore I6 of the ring 7.

An apertured plate 2| fits in the rabbet 22 of flange 20, said plate having an aperture 23 through which air is fed to the'head 9. The ring I8 is provided with a number of brackets or arms 24, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, each bracket accommodating a clamping bolt 25 which extends through the casing, motor H and into the base 13, whereby the ring I 8 and the motor II are clamped or bolted tightly to the base IS, the ring I 8 being supported by the motor II. The motor I I may be of any desired type now on the market and the shaft 26 thereof is adapted to rotate at a prescribed speed when supplied with electrical current. The shaft 26 is hollow and extends below and above the motor. At the lower end the shaft 26 is fitted to turn in a bearing 21,

at the upper end of the base I3 and extends into a chamber 28, into which is fitted a screw member 29, which is provided with a screw web and is threaded to the lower end of the shaft 26 and is adapted to act in a limited sense as a pump for preventing the oil from the supply pipe 3| from passing to a point above the upper part of the chamber 28, and a removable plug 32 is provided closing the lower end of the chamber whereby the parts may be assembled and readily cleaned.

It will be understood that fuel oil from any suitable source is fed at a desired pressure from pipe 3| into the chamber 33, and the pressure is sufficient to cause the same to pass upwardly through the bore 34 and shaft 26 and flow out through the various apertures 35. The oil flows continuously in this manner as long as the burner is in operation. It will be evident that any suitable manually actuated or automatically actuated mechanism could be attached to pipe 3| for varying the flow of oil or shutting the same off at any time. An ordinary hand-actuated cock would present a manually operated structure for turning on and off the oil and varying the amount of flow. Where the furnaces are being watched continuously this would be suiiicient, but where it is to be used in homes and elsewhere some of the well known automatic controls may be used to be connected to pipe 3|, the same forming no part of the present invention.

At the upper end the hollow shaft 26 is secured by suitable nuts 36 and 31 to the plate 38 which is preferably sheet metal, though it could be a casting, said plate being provided with a fiat bottom and an upstanding wall 39 formed in cross section with an ogee curve at a slight angle to the vertical. Nuts 40 and 4| clamp a top plate 42 to the shaft 26, said top nuts clamping the plate in such a Way that there will be an annular slit or space 43 between the Wall 39 and the plate 42. Also, it will be noted that the plate 42 projects radially outwardly beyond the upper edge of wall 39, whereby oil passing out through the slit 43 will be caused to move in a horizontal line and strike the curved surface 8 unless the air causes the same to rise before striking the surface. A plurality of tangentially positioned plates 44 are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the flat bottom of plate 38 and with this bottom form a fan which directs the air radially over the upper surface of the ring 1 and causes the air to thoroughly mix with the sprayed oil or vapor striking or approaching the curved surface 8. This produces an efficient mixture of oil and air so that proper combustion may be secured.

After the burner has been operating for a short time the ring 1 becomes heated and, consequently, there is a very efficient mixing and gasifying of the oil with the air so that the flame. usually starts a short distance above the ring I and extends upwardly different distances according to the oil used. The air moved by the fan 44 is drawn by the fan through the opening 23 from the chamber 45 formed by the flange 20 and associated parts. It will be noted that the chamber 46 formed by the casing l0 and associated parts surrounds the motor II and discharges directly into chamber 45. In this way the motor can be maintained cool and any heat that may be transmitted to the motor and associated parts will be taken up by the air, and, consequently, the air will be more or less warmed. as it passes through the opening 23, thus securing a very desirable action as the warmed air mixes with the oil vapor. In addition there is provided one or more air ports 41 to permit a circulation of air through the motor to maintain the same cool. When the burner is first started it must naturally be regulated so that the air and oil will be in proper proportions. In order to secure a proper regulation of air the casing I0 is rotatably mounted on the shoulder or abutment I! and is provided with a number of ports or windows 48 which coact with ports or windows 49 in the annular extension 50 which is an integral part of the base l3, as shown in Fig. 2. As illustrated in Fig. 4 the wing bolt 5| is carried by the extension 50 and extends through a slot 52 in the casing l0. When it is desired to adjust the opening and the relative position of the respective windows 48 and 49 which form a shutter control, bolt 5| is loosened and the casing I0 is rotated to the desired extent. The bolt 5| is then tightened so as to lock casing it) against accidental movement. casing I0 is of sufficient length to permit of full opening or full closing of the respective openings 49. When the device is in operation the motor will be rotating as indicated by the arrow 53 so that the webs 30 and member 29 will act in a certain sense as a pump to force the oil downwardly when it attempts to enter the chamber 28. When the burner is shut down by closing a valve in pipe 3| the oil will naturally stop flowing through the pipe 3|. turned off motor II and the motor will therefore cease to rotate. Any oil in the hollow shaft 26 will then gradually move downwardly into chamber 33 and find its way around the spiral openings between the spiral webs 30 until the oil fills the upper part of the chamber 28, thus permitting all of the oil to be drained from the head 9 and hollow shaft 26. When the device is again started the rotation of the motor II will immediately cause the pump 29 to force the oil back into chamber 33 and thence up through the shaft 29 into the head 9. As a fresh supply of oil passes in through pipe 3| the upward movement of the oil will continue as long as the burner is in operation.

In connection with lighting the burner, it will be evident that any suitable ignition means may be used, as, for instance, gas or electricity. As shown in Figure 1 an electrical device 54 of a well known type is used, the detail structure of i which forms no part of the present invention.

In operation the parts are as shown in Figure 2 and if desired to start the burner the current is turned on to the motor and, consequently, the same begins to rotate and as it rotates the shaft 26 will cause the head 9 to rotate. Oil is then turned on so that it will flow through pipe 3| through chamber 33 and eventually upwardly into the head 9 where it is thrown out by the action of centrifugal force through the slot 43. At the same time that the oil is thrown out in this way air is being forced radially by the fan 44. Also the ignition device 54 is functioning, the same having been properly turned on so that the mixture will become ignited and burn in the usual way. If the flame is not correct in a sense that the mixture is improper, the air may be varied by moving the shutter control casing l0 until the ideal mixture has been secured. When the burner is shut off the oil ceases to flow and the motor ceases to rotate. As heretofore described, when the motor ceases torotate the oil will gravitate downwardly intochamber 33 and then move upwardly into the bore 28. In this way there is no oil in the head or in the parts Slot 52 in the Also the current will be above the ring I when the burner is cold or stationary.

As shown at the left in Figure 2 suitable electrical connections are made with the motor ll so that the motor may be supplied with current from any suitable source and may be turned ofi and on manually or automatically as preferred.

When the device is functioning, the ring 1 acts not only as a deflecting ring, but also acts to vaporize or assist in vaporizing the oil. As shown in Figure l, the curved portion 8 deflects the carburetted oil and air upwardly at a desired angle, while the ring 4 has an extension 4' to deflect the heat immediately above the ring 1, so that it may be utilized for heating purposes as desired.

It is noted that a metallic ring 6 is supported by suitable members 5 which may be locked or welded in place, or may be bolt heads, the remaining part of the bolt extending through the shell of the furnace I. The inner part of the ring 6 is supported by a flange on the ring l8, which in conjunction with the lugs 5 supports rings 4 and 1.

It will be understood that certain specific structural features are disclosed for carrying my invention into effect, but I am not necessarily limited in these respects, and various changes in and modifications of the construction herein disclosed may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

I claim:

1. An oil burner unit of the class described comprising a substantially cylindrical casing, a base upon which said casing is supported, a ring fitting the upper end of the casing and including an upwardly extending flange forming in con junction with the casing a relatively large air circulating chamber above said base, an electric moitor mounted upon the base within the chamber of said casing and in spaced relation to the walls thereof to form an annular air circulating passage around said motor, inwardly projecting brackets on said ring for supporting and bracing the motor in said casing, a plate mounted upon the upper end of the flange of said ring, said plate having a, large central opening arranged above and in spaced relation to the upper end of the electric motor to provide for the circulation of air from said annular passage out through the opening in said plate, the casing having circumferentially spaced, vertical, elongated openings adjacent the base, said base having a flange upon which the casing is circumferentially adjustable to control said openings to govern the amount of air circulated through the casing, the motor having a shaft protruding through the opening in said plate and extending above said plate, and a burner head mounted on the protruding end of the motor shaft and disposed above said plate.

2. An oil burner unit of the class described comprising a base, a tubular casing extending above the base, a tubular member at the top of the casing, said member including an outwardly extending annular ring, said casing and member forming a large chamber, an electric motor mounted in said chamber, means adjacent the ring and projecting into said chamber for supporting the motor within said chamber and in spaced relation to the side walls thereof to form an annular passage around the motor within said chamber, an air deflecting ring at the upper end of said tubular member, the motor having a protruding shaft, and a burner head mounted on the protruding end of the shaft adjacent said deflector ring.

3. An oil burner unit of the class described comprising a base, a tubular casing extending above the base, a. tubular member at the top of the casing, said member including an outwardly extending annular ring, said casing and member forming a large chamber, an electric motor mounted in said chamber, means adjacent the ring and projecting into said chamber for supporting the motor within said chamber and in spaced relation to the side Walls thereof to form an annular passage around the motor within said chamber, an air deflecting ring at the upper end of said tubular member, the motor having a protruding shaft, a burner head mounted on the protruding end of the shaft adjacent said deflector ring, the base having a tubular portion extending into the casing, said tubular portion having oircumferentially spaced openings, the Wall of the casing having oircumferentially spaced openings adapted to register with the openings in said tubular portion, the casing being adjustable to control said openings to regulate the amount of air admitted to said annular passage and means for retaining the casing in different positions of adjustment.

DONALD H. WASHURN. 

